Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr will consider Sunderland's Sean Thornton for a full cap before the end of the current Euro 2004 qualifying campaign.

Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr will consider Sunderland's Sean Thornton for a full cap before the end of the current Euro 2004 qualifying campaign.

However, the scorer of Saturday's stunning opener against Chelsea last night insisted that he must make a first-team shirt his own before he can concentrate on furthering his international career.

Irish officials are well aware of the fast-improving teenager's precocious talent and Thornton more than held his own in front of Claudio Ranieri's millionaire set, despite his side's 2-1 defeat at the Stadium of Light.

The former Tranmere midfielder had Black Cats' boss Mick McCarthy purring and drew warm praise from the Blues' Italian coach after his first Premiership goal had brought a passionate crowd to its feet.

But consistency remains the key for the inexperienced 19-year-old and he admitted: "Every player wants to play week-in, week out and I'm no different. I want to pull on that red-and-white shirt every week.

"I was pleased with my performance against Chelsea. Overall we played well but the result was the main thing and in that respect I'm upset we didn't get the win.

"Of course, it was great to get my first Premiership goal. To score it at the Stadium of Light made it an extra special moment. I just took a touch, looked up and the rest is history. Was it my best goal? Maybe. I'm too modest to say otherwise!"

Kerr is keeping a close eye on a player surely destined for a glittering future with the Irish and McCarthy understands why.

The former Republic manager had the confidence to play Thornton in a three-man midfield at the weekend and added: "If Sean plays like that every week, then it won't be long before he graduates from the Under-21s.

"I didn't know too much about him while I was still with Ireland, as he wasn't quite ready to step up at that stage.

"But I'm sure they know all about him now and a senior cap beckons."

Thornton's first Premiership goal, in only his eighth appearance for Sunderland, is already a contender for April's Goal of the Month and highly-rated Blues' keeper Carlo Cudicini got nowhere near the youngster's 20-yard effort.

The Dreogheda-born playmaker almost doubled his tally three minutes from time when his curling free-kick struck the foot of Cudicini's right-hand post but an all-action performance epitomised a spirited Sunderland display.

"There's still a positive attitude within the squad and the Chelsea game proved we're not feeling sorry for ourselves," he added.

"At half-time we were all confident we could go on and win the game against a side challenging for the Champions League places. But it wasn't to be."

There seems little doubt that Thornton will play a key role at the forefront of McCarthy's Black Cats' revolution and he refuses to be overawed at the prospect of a return to the Nationwide League.

"The First Division is a difficult enough place to be, but it's not as tough as the Premiership," he explained. "You're talking about the best league on the world, as far as I'm concerned, and the Nationwide doesn't come close."